Car-fender.



J. D. MARVIL.

GAR FENDER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 3, 1908.

Patented Apr; 12,1910'.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. D. MARVIL.

GAR FENDER.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 6, 190B.

I 954,754. I v Patented Apr. 12,1910.

UNITEB SATES ATE@ FME.

JOSHUA D. MARVIL, OF LAUREL, DELAWARE.

CAR-FENDER.

T o all 'whom it may concern Be it known that I, Josntni D. MAnviL, a citizen of the United States. residing at Laurel, in the county of Sussex and State of Dela are. have invented new and useful Improvements in Car-Fenders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to car fenders particularly adapted for application to ordi nary street cars but equally effective in service when applied to suburban or interurban oars.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a car fender which may be readily raised from the platform of the car and firmly locked down in operative position to prevent movement thereof independently of the movement of the car and insure constancy of position thereof with respect to the track rails and thus prevent persons or objects on the track and struck by the fender from passing under the latter. The fender is so arranged on the car end and has such position when lowered and in normal working condition as to preclude the possibility of injuring a person struck thereby by causing the struck person to be thrown over into the net or soft or yielding body covering forming the major portion of the fender. As an effective auxiliary, the fender is provided at its front extremity with a positively driven roller means which in som-e in stances is arranged at reverse angles from the center toward opposite sides of the fender, and in other instances said means consists of a single roller extending' straight. across the front end of the fender7 both roller means being driven by simplified gearing either actuated from the adjacent car axl'e or by a shaft rotatable in the fender and carrying track wheels. In the preferred construction and combined with the roller means and general fender organization is a flexible operating device which is controllable from the platform of a car to either elevate the fender without requiring the motor-man to leave the car platform or to secure the fender against movement in close relation to the track rails over which it Jtravels. The provision of means for raising the fender from the platform of the car without stopping the latter or requiring other loss of time is particularly advanta- Serial N0. 447,268.

geous in cramped places or narrow streets over and through which the car is required to move and demanding an elevation of the fender to avoid striking objects adjacent to the track or interfering with the movement of cars traveling in opposite directions. In the present instance the means for elevating the fender and for locking the same in lowered normal position is structurally reduced or simplified, and consists esentially of a single rotatable element movable in opposite directions to attain the two functions for which it has been devised and coacting therewith are locking means having reverse operating characteristics.

@ther incidental features and details of construction will be more fully hereinafter explain-ed, and in the drawings a preferred embodiment of t-he invention is illustrated in two forms and subject to such modifications as fairly fall within the scope of the claims.

In the drawings: Figure l is a longitudinal section of a portion of a car end showing the fender embodying the features of the invention applied thereto and also illustrated in section. Fig. 2 is a plan vie-w illustrating the fender applied to the car end shown in dotted lines and including an operating car axle, the fender being Vpartially in section. Fig. 3 is a cross sect-ion of the fender controller which is mounted on the ear end. Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the fender controller and a portion of the dashboard to which it is preferably applied. Fig. 5 illustrates a plan view of a modified form of the fender, a car axle, and a portion of the platform in dotted lines. Fig. G is a view similar to Fig. showing a further modiication.

Similar characters of reference are einployed to indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

The numeral 1 designates the platform of a car having a dash or dashboard 2, and for the purpose of illustrating the practical operation of the fender a forward car axle 3 having the usual tianged wheels 4 is also shown. l

In applying the fender embodying the features of the invention to a car end or platform no material change is required in customary construction of such parts of the Patented Apr. 12, 1910.

car, and in tact the fender and its attachof the `tender.

ments are applicable to any car now in use.

The attaching means for the 'fender consists o1c hangers 5 movably secured at their upper extremities to the under side of the car platform as at 6, the said hangers being positively or immovably attached to the back rail or member 7 of the :tender frame and preferably continuous with side members or rails 8 which, as shown by 2 and 5, are connected by a cross-brace 9 near the front extremities of the said side rails.

The frame of the tender will be provided with a suitable net or other flexible covering 10, and in all forms shown the fender frame is substantially of the same construction.

Through the medium of the ulcrumed hangers 5 or equivalent devices the fender may be readily elevated in close relation to t-he dash 2 or lowered into operative position, and the preferred means tor raising and lowering the tender and maintainingl the latter in fixed position when lowered will be more fully hereinafter explained.

1n the form of the fender shown by F 1 and Q, two conical rollers 11 are rotatably mounted between the front extremities ot' the side rails 8 and inclined rearwardly in opposite directions from the center ot the forward extremity ot the fender. r1`he rollers 11 have their reduced extremities adjacent to the ends ot the rails 8 and may be constructed of any suitable material and in some instances by preference will have yielding characteristics. These rollers 1.1 are carried by shaft means 12 practically continuous through the medium of a knuckle 18 atthe center and disposed in a closed bearing le supported by the brace 9, the front of the bearing 1li being provided with a forwardly projecting yielding or elastic butler 15 to prevent injury to a person that may be struck by the central bar of the tender adjacent to the bearing 1-1 and also to materially relieve the tender ot injurious shock or jar when coming into Contact with a resisting object at the center. The rollers 11 are rotated inwardly or toward the netting 10 and by such operation a struck object is thrown over into the netting. Experience has shown that accidents and fatalities to persons struck by car 'fenders usually ensue at one side or the other of the longitudinal center of the fender or when person has started to cross a track ahead of a car or just prior to leaving the track. To meet this contingency in either event the rollers 11 are disposed at the inclinations shown and are formed conical or tapered to shear olf a person struck on either side of the longitudinal center of the tender or tend to push the person or object outwardly from the track in opposite lateral directions ahead When this result fails, the angular disposition ot the rollers is still effective. in neeting a. person or object squarely on either side ot the longitudinal center ot the tender and insure the person or object being thrown or directed into the fender traine onto the netting. The practically continuous shatt or shatt members carrying the rollers 11 may be operated in either one ot two ways, and as shown by Fig. 2 a counter-shaft 1G extends longitudinally through the trame of the tender at one side ot the longitudinal center ot the latter and is provided with beveled pinions 17 and 18 on opposite ends, the pinion 1T being held in separable meshing relation to a pinion 19 fixed on and rotatable with the car axle 8. The pinion 1S is held in continual mesh with a pinion 2O on the outer extremity of one of the rollers 11, the pinions 1S and 20 having a surface shield or guard 21 thereover to prevent contact therewith ot a person struck by and thrown into the tender over the said gearing. When the tender is fully lowered the pinion 1T will be disposed in full engagement with the pinion 19. uWhen the tender is raised the pinion 17 gradually moves away from the pinion 19.

1n the modiiied construction shown by Fig. 5 the rollers 11 and their shaft means are driven by mechanism independent in its operation ot the car axle. 1n this instance a shaft extends across the forward extremity ot the tender traine and carries at opposite extremities small track engaging wheels 23, and near one or" these wheels a gearing or pinion 2e is tixed on the shaitt il to rotate therewith and held in continual mesh with a4 pinion on the outer extremity of one of the rollers 11. ln some applications ot the tender this moditied means for actuating the rollers 11 will be preferred. The tender as shown by Fig. 5 in other respects is similar to that illustrated by Figs. 1 and Q.

1n Fig. (i a t'urther modification ot the tender is shown and consists in providing the same with a single roller 2G extending straight across the front extremity of the trame and having on one end a beveled pinion 2T continually held in mesh with a corresponding pinion 28 on the forward end et a shaft 29 carried by the fender frame and provided with a rear pinion 3() adapted to mesh with a pinion 31 held on the car axle 3 in a manner similar to the mechanism tor driving the rollers 11 shown by Fig. Q. rihe straight roller Q6 is rotated inwardly or rearwardly with respect to the fender and may be constructed of any suitable material adapted for the purpose.

The fender operating controller is the same in all the forms of the fender illustrated and the main operating organization thereof is preferably disposed on the dash 2 within easy reaching distance of a motorman, and comprises essentially twin frame members 32 of duplicate construction secured against t-he inner and outer sides of the dash, as clearly shown by Fig. et, and provides a box-like support through the center of which a rotatable element or winding member 33 extends, having a terminating bearing in t-he outer frame member 3Q and projecting rearwardly through the inner frame member to receive a handwheel 3% simulating a capstan wheel and of such diameter as to afford the operator or moto-rman sufficient purchase to expeditiously rotate the element or member 33 in opposite directions. Fixed on the element or member 33 and held closely against the inner opposing sides of the fram-e members 32 are ratchet wheels 35 and 36 respectively having their teeth in reverse relation or projecting in opposite directions for engagement by re- `versely arranged dogs 3T and 33. Connected to opposite portions of the rotatable element or winding member 33 in advance and in rear of the dash 2 are the terminals of chain extremities 39 and 40. The chain extremities 39 and e() are practically parts of a continuous chain which is preferably formed with flat links, or said chain may be replaced by any other flexible connecting devicevadapted for the purpose, though the chain as shown is preferred. The extremity 39 of the chain extends downwardly over the inner side of the dash 2 through an opening 41 in the platform, over a direction pulley 4t2 and continuous rearwardly in a horizontal plane through a groove 43 until it reaches a direction pull-ey 4st over which it is retained and from the latter pulley passes down and is secured to the lower portion of the center of the rear rail 7 of the fender. rfhe extremity 40 of the chain passes downwardly over the outer side of the dash i). and over a direction pulley 45 and from the latter to the rail 7 where it becomes practically continuous with the remaining' portion of the chain. rfhe extremities 39 and 40 of the chain wind in reverse directions on the rotatable element or winding member 33 so that when one extremity is wound on said element or member the other extremity is paid off or unwouud. The winding of the extremity 4() on the element or member 33 in advance of the dash Q results in an elevation of the fender, the rear extremity 39 of the chain under these conditions being gradually slackened to avoid obstructing the upward movement of the rear extremity of the fender. A reverse rotation of the element or member 33 and wind or take up the slack of the extremity 39 and permit the fender to lower or be depressed into operative position, and when the fender has been fully lowered and the dog 37 thrown into locking engagement with the ratchet 35, upward movement of the fender will be obstructed in view of the fact that the extremity 39 will be held taut, and when both dogs 36 and 37 are in engagement with their respective ratchet-s the lock is still more effective. The fender may be raised and maintained at any elevation between its maximum lower and upper adjustments, and to avoid injury to the fender should any object be encountered in the track, and particulary an inert obstruct-ion, the fender may be readily raised to pass over the said object from the platform of the car with comparatively little delay.

The fender is simple as well as strong and durable in its construction, and in view of the provisions for relieving the same of undue shock or jar and obstructing self-movement thereof its service will be materially prolonged as compared to the ordinary fenders now in use. By locking the fender against upward movement after it has been lowered in the manner explained a rocking movement of the car will cause the fender to move equally with the car with further advantages in preserving the construction of the fender.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is:

l. The combination with a car, of a fender movably attached thereto, a winding device having locking means, and flexible means having portions reversely movable over the winding device, the extremities of the flexible means being connected to the rear part ofthe fender below the point of attachment of the latter and running to and from the fender from opposite directions, one portion of the flexible means acting against the other when drawn taut to lock the fender in depressed position.

2. The combination with a car, of a fender attached thereto and movably suspended therefrom, flexible means arranged in separated strands and connected to the rear part of the fender below the point of attachment of the latter and ruiming' to the fender from opposite directions, and winding means carried by the car, the separate strands of the iexible means having reverse movements on the winding means, the winding means operating on one strand in opposition to the other to lock the fender against movement.

3. The combination with a car, of a fender movably attached thereto, flexible means having parts ruiming and connected to the rear portion of the fender for elevating and depressing the latter, the parts of the flexible means approaching the rear portion of the fender in opposite directions, and means for winding and unwinding the flexible means and for locking the parts of said ffexible means, the flexible means when locked being drawn taut and the one part acting in opposition Vto the other part in preventing' maximum elevation of the fender.

t. A movably mounted car fender having reversely movable flexible devices connected to the rear portion thereof for elevating and depressing the said fender and for locking the fender against movementlwhen in depressed operative position, the flexible devices ope y'ating in reverseA directions to set up an equal pulling action on the fender when serving as a lock for the latter.

The combination with a car platform having a dash, of a fender movably attached thereto, a winding member supported by the dash and having reversely operating locking devices associated therewith, and a flexibledevice having its terminals attached to opposite portions of the winding member and movable over the latter in reverse directions, the flexible de rice being connected to the fender for elevating and lowering the latter and serving a lock means to hold the fender immovable when in its depressed operative position.

rlhe combination with a car platform having a dash, of a fender movably attached to and suspended from the platform, a rotatable controller held by the dash, and flexible devices connected to the rear part of the fender below its point of attachment, the flexible devices having reverse winding association with the said controller, the controller being operative to set up an equal pulling strain on the flexible devices to lock the fender in depressed position.

T. The combination with a car platform having a dash, of a car fender movably associated with the platform, a control-ler held on the dash and comprising a rotatable meinber extending through the dash and carrying reversely arranged ratchets at opposite extremities, reversely arranged dogs coperating with said ratchets, and a flexible device having its terminals connected to opposite portions of the said member to wind and unwind in reverse directions with relation to the latter, the flexible device being connected to the fender and serving to elevate and depress said fender.

S. T he combination with a car platform, of a fender movably attached thereto, flexible means connected to the fender and extending npwardly above the platform for raising and lowering the fender, and mechanism for reversely i vinding and nnwinding the opposite extremities of said flexible means and for locking the latter to prevent movement of the fender when in one of its positions.

9. The combination with a car platform, of a fender movably attached thereto, flexible means connected to the rear part of the fender for elevating' and lowering the same, and means for operating the said flexible means and having reversely arranged looking devices to hold the flexible means against movement and maintain the fender in immovable depressed position.

lO. rl`he combination with a car, of a fender movably attached thereto, roller means at the front extremity of the fender, mechanism for positively rotating the said roller means toward the fender and solely engaging one extremity of the said roller means, the said mechanism including a rigid shaft carried by the fender and operated by rotating means engaging the track over which the. car runs, the said shaft being elevated and depressed with the fender and rendered inactive when the fender is elevated, and means for elevating and depressing the fender and locking the latter in depressed position to maintain the said rigid shaftin active position.

ll. rfhe combination with a car, of a fender movably attached thereto, reversely disposed angularly arranged rollers at the front extremity of the fender having individual shafts movablyconnected at their inner extremities between the inner ends of the rollers, mechanism solely engaging the outer extremity of one roller for rotating both rollers and shafts rearwardly toward the fender, the said mechanism including a rigid shaft carried by and movable with the fender and extending rearwardly and having` drive means to separably coperate with the adjacent car axle and wheels, and means for elevating and depressing the fender, the shaft included Yin the mechanism for rotating the rollers being thrown out of and into engagement with the car axle and wheels respectively by the elevation and depression of the fender.

l2. rThe combination with a car, of a fender niovably attached thereto, conical rollers at the front extremity of the fender inclining rearwardly from the center of the latter and having their reduced extremities outermost, the rollers being provided with shaft means niovably connected to practically form continuous shaft, and mechanism engaging one roller for rotating both rollers rear vardly toward the body of t-he fender.

123. A car fender having rearwardly rotating roller means at its front extremity, the roller means being exposed for engagement with objects approached by the fender, gear devices operatively engaging one outer end of the said roller means, the gear devices being in part carried by one end of the roller means, and a guard plate located at one side.

disposed over the gear devices solely at one In testimony Whereorl I have hereunto set end of the roller means to shield the said my hand 1n presence of two subscribing Witgeal' devices and prevent Contact therewith nesses.

of objects taken up by and thrown rear- JOSHUA D. MARVIL. Wardly into the fender Without interfering IVitnesses: with the operative engagement of the roller ISAAC E. HEARN,

means directly with said objects. i NEWTON E. WARD. 

